Chapter 124: Untitled (Fourth Installment)

Just as Ninth Prince had finished telling Yan Yan that they would soon be leaving Changli for Yongping Prefecture, the Prefect of Yongping arrived that very afternoon to pay his respects. It turned out that the Kangxi Emperor’s decree had already reached the prefecture, explicitly instructing the Ninth Prince to handle the matter of the stranded foreigners.

The Prefect of Yongping was a Han Chinese man in his fifties named He Qian. He had achieved his Jinshi degree only in his late twenties. After serving for nearly a decade as a compiler in the Hanlin Academy, he was finally posted to Yongping, starting from the humble position of Assistant Prefect before climbing the ranks to become the Prefect this year. He had hoped to pass these three years in office peacefully, not necessarily seeking a promotion, but at least hoping for a lateral transfer. Little did he expect that less than six months into his tenure, he would be struck by this major crisis involving the stranded foreigners.

Although no artillery had been found on the foreigners' large ship, and those who had disembarked were uniformly polite, the situation remained grave. If handled poorly, it could easily be construed as collusion with the enemy or treason.

Thus, when He Qian heard that the Ninth Prince had arrived in Changli, he was overjoyed—he was practically ready to set off firecrackers in celebration. Without a moment’s delay, he rushed to Changli. Naturally, he also gave a stern dressing-down to the subordinates who had handled the household registrations for Wu Tong and the others, hoping the Ninth Prince would not take notice of such irregularities; otherwise, it would be seen as bending the law for personal gain, and a mere Prefect like himself would surely face dire consequences.

Hearing that the Prefect had arrived, Yan Yan tactfully took the children away. She did not invite the Ninth Prince to host the guest in the front courtyard, mainly because it was too small to accommodate such a high-ranking figure. The moment He Qian saw the Prince deigning to stay in such humble lodgings, he immediately knelt to beg for forgiveness. The Ninth Prince did not bid him rise, asking only a few indifferent questions about the foreigners before dismissing him.

When He Qian left, he was drenched in cold sweat, marveling at how a prince truly carried the aura of royalty; simply sitting there was enough to strike fear into the hearts of others. Wu Tong accompanied He Qian back to Yongping to prepare accommodations for the Ninth Prince.

Three days later, the Ninth Prince set off for Yongping with Yan Yan and their three children. The three little ones seemed incredibly excited about the carriage ride, jumping and fidgeting, touching this and that without a moment’s rest. Eventually, Hongzheng grew tired of the novelty; pushing open the carriage window and seeing his father riding a tall steed outside, he immediately called out, "Ama! Ama!"

This was why the Ninth Prince considered his children geniuses. Despite being only a year old, Hongzheng could already call for his father, and quite clearly at that. Although these were the only two words he knew, the Ninth Prince was immensely gratified.

Seeing Hongzheng’s longing eyes pressed against the window, the Ninth Prince smiled. "What? Do you want to come to Ama?" Hongzheng, truly understanding his father, nodded vigorously. The Ninth Prince rode his horse to the side of the window, reached out with his large hand, and pulled Hongzheng from the carriage, giving Yan Yan a fright. "My Lord, that is too dangerous!"

The Ninth Prince ignored her, patted Hongzheng’s head, and laughed, "Don't mind your mother; she is too faint-hearted." He placed Hongzheng in front of him, protecting the boy with one arm while holding the reins with the other, and galloped a short distance. Soon, the entire imperial road was filled with Hongzheng's laughter, contrasted by the indignant cries of Hongzhang inside the carriage. Irritated by Hongzhang’s wailing, Yan Yan had no choice but to summon one of the Ninth Prince's guards to take Hongzhang for a ride on horseback.

Upon arriving in Yongping, He Qian proved to be a sensible man. Daring not let the Prince stay in an inn, he hurriedly vacated his own grand residence. Apart from essential maids, he, his wife, and their children moved into the outer courtyards, keeping a very low profile.

Yan Yan felt this was an undue imposition and was about to suggest staying at an inn, but the Ninth Prince did not seem embarrassed in the slightest, moving in quite naturally.

Yan Yan found the ancients rather interesting. Even though she and the Ninth Prince had arrived together, and He Qian was well aware of her status, he had arranged separate rooms for them. Furthermore, Yan Yan’s room was not even in the same courtyard as the Ninth Prince’s; though nearby, it was a secluded, independent space. Entering the courtyard, she saw a swing entwined with fresh flowers beneath a tree and smiled slightly. "The owner of this courtyard is quite sentimental." Cui'er, however, pursed her lips and offered no comment.

Inside the main chamber, the room was filled with pink accents—clearly a young woman's boudoir. Yan Yan narrowed her eyes. Considering He Qian’s age, she immediately realized whose room this was. She frowned slightly and winked at Cui'er.

Cui'er burst into laughter. "Does the Secondary Consort not like this room?" Yan Yan shrugged, smiling. "How could I not like such an obvious gesture from the Prefect?" She stroked the tablecloth on the Eight Immortals table. "Look at this sentiment, look at this embroidery—it is clearly the work of a clever and talented young lady."

Yan Yan sighed helplessly, then slammed the table, looking at Cui'er with feigned indignation. "Cui'er, do I look that foolish? They use such transparent tricks on me—it’s an insult to my intelligence. How infuriating!"

"Haha..." Before Cui'er could respond, the Ninth Prince’s hearty laughter echoed from the doorway. Yan Yan turned away, looking at the peonies embroidered on the table, feeling only more annoyed. Even as someone from the modern era, she knew that in this age, a young lady’s boudoir was a place of utmost privacy. Unless He Qian had been kicked in the head by a donkey, he would never have put her in his daughter’s room. The intention was as clear as day.

Ignoring the source of her frustration, Yan Yan watched as the Ninth Prince waved his hand, and soon they were left alone. He sat opposite her, tracing the embroidery on the table, and chuckled, "Indeed, the needlework is quite fine."

Yan Yan’s brow furrowed deeper. "My Lord!" The Ninth Prince responded instantly, "Yes? What is it?" Yan Yan glared at him, and the Prince only laughed more heartily.

Meanwhile, far away at the Mulan Hunting Grounds, the Kangxi Emperor was also in high spirits. The Thirteenth Prince had proven himself capable, organizing a small competition that drew applause and praise from the Emperor for the fine men of the Great Qing.

Suddenly, Li Dequan whispered something in the Emperor's ear, and Kangxi’s face darkened instantly. The expressions of the Crown Prince, the First, Fourth, Eighth, and Thirteenth Princes all shifted. Kangxi scanned the faces of his sons before commanding Li Dequan, "Issue the decree: let the Tenth and Fourteenth Princes lead five thousand troops and march with all speed to Yongping Prefecture."